A safe, clean, and healthy environment is a key component of neighborhood quality. The three Indicators in this Topic explored different attributes of neighborhoods that have an impact on resident health. The first Indicator compared park quality in Council District 1 and Council District 7. The second Indicator compared the rates of service request for illegal dumping in majority Latino and majority White census tracts. The third Indicator compared the pollution burden score in majority Asian and majority White census tracts.

Census tracts within Oakland California that are in the upper 25th percentile statewide for CalEPA's Cal Enviroscreen 2.0, which compiled a series of socioeconomic and environmental indicators to determine "environmentally disadvantaged communities".